Leadership Group
Jonathan Yates - Chief Executive Officer
Jonathan began working for the Citizens Advice service in 2001 in a newly created role as IT Manager for the Oldham District Bureaux. Prior to this, he had been an IT consultant for over ten years for a Manchester-based technology company.
Taking up the role of Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Advice Oldham in 2007 he has since led the organisation through mergers and growth, creating Citizens Advice Pennine West in 2012 and most recently transforming a collaboration with Citizens Advice Stockport into the Citizens Advice SORT Group in 2021.
As an experienced leader in the voluntary sector, Jonathan is a trustee of Action Together CIC, a voluntary sector infrastructure organisation covering Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside. He has also been involved in the formation of the Trafford Collective, a new body to support, promote and connect the voluntary and community sector in Trafford.
You can see more about Jonathan on LinkedIn.
Aly Darwin- Head of Business Delivery
Aly brings over 12 years of experience with Citizens Advice to her current role as Head of Business Delivery. Starting as a volunteer in 2011, she has managed services spanning debt, benefits, energy, housing, immigration, and employment.
Joining the Citizens Advice SORT team in 2021, Aly built the energy programme from the ground up. Along with colleagues, she has spearheaded innovative service delivery, utilising technology like AI to streamline operations. Her extensive background providing critical support across sectors makes Aly a compassionate and strategic leader in SORT's ongoing aim to support as many people as possible in these difficult times.
Aly holds a Level 5 qualification in Operations Management and is currently pursuing a Level 7 qualification in Senior Leadership.
Stuart Pearson - Head of Innovation & Business Development
Stuart has been working in the Citizens Advice network since 2002. During this time he has led on a range of digital and service transformation projects. He is driven by a desire to make access to advice as friction less as possible and to create services that feel tailor made for the individual.
Stuart in our new the Head of Innovation & Business Development for the Citizens Advice SORT Group. He is responsible for delivering innovative solutions to better help our clients across across Stockport, Oldham, Trafford and Rochdale. Stuart sat on the national Citizens Advice technology committee and is a member of the Citizens Advice Innovation Panel. He is a strong advocate for digital inclusion and represents Citizens Advice SORT Group at the Greater Manchester Digital Inclusion Taskforce.
Julian Spencer - Head of Business Services
Julian joined Citizens Advice services in 2013 initially as an advisor, before being appointed as Access Point Manager, responsible for our client-facing services. As the Pennine West group grew to include Oldham, Rochdale and Trafford, Julian’s role developed into one that managed the organisation’s support services. As Business Support Manager Julian managed the Finance team, IT department, administration team and had overall responsibility for Risk and Compliance, Facilities, Health and Safety and Information Assurance.
In 2021 Julian was appointed Head of Business Services for the newly formed Citizens Advice SORT Group, leading the operational and strategic delivery of Finance, Communications & Engagement, Business Support, Data & Insight and Technology & Transformation as well as responsibility for our workspaces and risk management.
You can see more about Julian on LinkedIn.
Anna Rojek- Strategic People and Culture Manager
Anna started her journey with Citizens Advice in 2014, initially as a volunteer before progressing through various roles, highlighting her deep passion for people and her expertise in human resources and learning development. She studied International Law & Modern Languages at the University of Szczecin and Journalism at Collegium Balticum Szczecin, all of which have enriched her capabilities. Anna is currently pursuing a CIPD Level 7 qualification in Strategic People Management and Learning and Development, particularly focusing on Advanced Employment Law.
In her current role, Anna is deeply committed to nurturing a workplace culture that values and supports each employee. She plays a crucial role in enhancing employee engagement, developing influential leaders, and championing diversity and inclusion initiatives. Her responsibilities also extend to fostering a continuous learning and improvement culture, ensuring compliance with HR policies and procedures, and maintaining accurate HR records and reports.
Anna's passion for people drives her to create a positive and inclusive work environment that empowers individuals to reach their full potential.